THE weather has ended Michael Nelson's chances of making his first team return at Cambridge tomorrow.

Torrential rain led to the postponement of the midweek reserve match against Stoke City, when Nelson - along with Lee Unsworth and Marc Whiteman - would have gained vital match practice ahead of the Cambridge clash.

But without 90 minutes under their belts, manager Andy Preece is unlikely to name any of them in the starting line up at the Abbey Stadium.

"It's a real blow for me that the reserve match was cancelled because I wanted all three to get a match," admitted the boss.

"The Cambridge game is probably a bit too soon for Michael now which is a pity because given the form he was in before he got injured he would have been a straight choice to go back in.

"He's looked good in training and in a match we had between ourselves on Monday but he is lacking a little bit of fitness. He isn't quite ready yet but as soon as he is we will be looking to put him back in."

Preece's main decision will be whether to start with Lawson up front with Newby, or leave the former Stockport man on the bench and field a more defensive line up - a ploy which worked well at Reading (though Lawson did come on as sub and grab a late equaliser).

Whatever team he chooses, Preece knows this match - and the next two months - are absolutely critical.

"It is a crucial period," confided Preece. "We will know in the New Year whether we are going to be okay or down there fighting for our lives until the end of the season.

"If you look at the games we've got coming up before Christmas then we should be looking to pick up points. We should be beating the likes of Chesterfield, Peterborough, Brighton and Blackpool at home.

"They are all the teams that are around us in the league and it is critical that we start to get some points before the end of the year and get ourselves right out of it.

"With the league being so tight a good run would move us up and you never know what could happen from there."

Main dangerman for Cambridge is top scorer Dave Kitson. He has five goals to his name already this term and has been a revelation since making the step up from non-league.